Can LASIK Improve Reading Vision?

Most patients who are interested in LASIK eye surgery want to improve their long-distance vision. But those who are farsighted wonder if laser eye surgery is even a procedure that will work for them. Can LASIK improve reading vision as well as it can improve faraway vision?  

Can LASIK Improve Reading Vision?

The answer is yes! With a LASIK monovision procedure, you can correct your sight so you can read clearly again. Keep reading below to learn what our best LASIK doctors know about this unique procedure.

What is Monovision?

Monovision describes a new modern technique that involves the correction of vision errors in one eye while leaving the other eye alone. Essentially, one eye will become nearsighted while the other remains farsighted. During a monovision LASIK procedure, your surgeon will correct one of your eyes so that you can read up close. The non-corrected eye will help you see things far away. 

Many patients choose a monovision procedure because it prevents the need for reading glasses, bifocals, or contact lenses. It can be a bit of an adjustment, though, so doctors recommend starting slow with a pair of monovision contacts. 

How Does Monovision Work? 

There are different types of monovision procedures and treatments that help people maintain comfortable eyesight at all times. Most of the time, your LASIK surgeon will choose to leave your dominant eye alone while correcting vision errors in your other eye. Everyone has one eye that provides slightly more information to the brain than the other, and this is known as the dominant eye. 

Types of Monovision

The most popular monovision procedure involves LASIK eye surgery, where a full correction of one eye helps you see up close and far away. Modified monovision may require you to wear one bifocal contact lens to help you adjust to seeing up close. If you work on a computer but do not necessarily read a lot, you may benefit from “computer monovision,” which can correct your vision but still require you to wear reading glasses. 

Monovision Results

After your monovision procedure, you will be able to see both up close and far away. One eye will be slightly blurred when reading, and the other will be blurred when looking across a distance. When both of your eyes are open, you won’t be able to tell when your vision is blurred. Monovision improves both your nearsightedness and farsightedness at once! 

Who is a Good Candidate for Monovision LASIK?

At Advanced Eye Medical, we offer monovision LASIK to those who are diagnosed with presbyopia. This is an eye condition that makes it hard for people to see things up close. Typically, presbyopia is a condition that appears in people aged 45-65, as reading vision worsens over time. 

While this is a natural part of the aging process, presbyopia can be detrimental to your natural vision and eyesight. If you are struggling to see up close and notice strongly blurred vision, you may want to get in touch with a LASIK eye specialist. 

In addition to age, presbyopia can also be caused by: 

  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • Antidepressants and antihistamines 

No matter how old or young you are, your brain will adjust quickly to a monovision adjustment. Getting rid of presbyopia is important to your overall health and well-being, as this corrective procedure can get you to read your favorite books again without having to strain your eyes. 

Correct Your Eyesight the Right Way!

If you suffer from presbyopia and you notice a decline in your ability to read up close, you might benefit from monovision LASIK. Get in touch with our experts at Advanced Eye Medical and learn more about what this innovative procedure can do for you. Schedule your appointment today!